The anticipation was palpable at the live finale for Survivor 50, with fans eager to catch a glimpse of the show’s first-ever winner, Richard Hatch. However, for those hoping to see Hatch in the audience, it seems he will be notably absent.
Despite reports on CBS Mornings that all Survivor winners were invited to attend the finale in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 20, Hatch himself has refuted this claim. Taking to Twitter, he declared, “CBS Mornings lied this morning saying all Survivor winners were invited to [tomorrow’s] Season 50 finale! I’m the Original Winner, and I WAS NOT INVITED!”
In response to Hatch’s statement, the network denied that he was not invited, asserting that all winners were indeed extended an invitation to celebrate the show’s legacy at the Survivor 50 finale.
Among the previous winners slated to be in attendance include fan-favorites Parvati Shallow, Boston Rob Mariano, Amber Mariano, John Cochran, Natalie Anderson, Tina Wesson, and Ethan Zohn.
The three-hour finale will see one of the final five castaways – Aubry Bracco, Jonathan Young, Joe Hunter, Tiffany Nicole Ervin, or Rizo Velovic – vie for the coveted $2 million prize.
In addition to the high-stakes competition, the historic episode will mark the first live reunion since season 39 in 2019.
While the cast of Survivor 50 featured returning players, including Hatch’s Borneo co-star Jenna Lewis and All-Stars tribe mate Colby Donaldson, Hatch himself has not been considered for a Survivor season in quite some time.
Hatch’s controversial behavior during his All-Stars appearance, particularly an incident involving Sue Hawk, ultimately led to his removal from the competition. Host Jeff Probst reflected on the decision not to invite Hatch to the Winners at War cast in 2020, citing the different cultural landscape and standards of the time.
The Survivor 50 finale promises to be a thrilling culmination of the season, with tension running high as the final castaways battle it out for the ultimate prize.
Don’t miss the finale of Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, airing May 20 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.